Kenyon sets sights on ruling the world

Chelsea's chief executive Peter Kenyon has set the club the target of becoming the world's biggest in both footballing and marketing terms on the back of Roman Abramovich's unprecedented injection of funds.

Chelsea's chief executive Peter Kenyon has set the club the target of becoming the world's biggest in both footballing and marketing terms on the back of Roman Abramovich's unprecedented injection of funds.

Having spent £121.3m on players last season to finish as runners-up in the Premiership and Champions' League semi-finalists, Abramovich has spent another £69.3m on six players this summer, with the manager Jose Mourinho confirming yesterday he wants one more defender before the end of August.

On the eve of the opening game of their tour of the United States, against Celtic here today, Kenyon said: "We want to build our business on stronger financial grounds and turn Chelsea into the No 1 club in the world, on and off the field. We hope that new fans from all over the globe, starting in America, will loyally follow our fortunes. Last summer's takeover was probably the most dramatic development in the club's history and events of last season followed that lead as we enjoyed our best season since 1955."

Mourinho will sign another centre-half before the Champions' League deadline next month to replace Marcel Desailly as he believes it would be "dangerous" to start his first English season with only three senior players in that position. Mourinho also hopes to use his contacts in the Portuguese Football Association to prevent his most recent signing, the Benfica midfielder Tiago Mendes, being called up for the Olympic Games and missing half a dozen matches.